Thread by @ashishkjha

Almost every day, I am asked about the Russian vaccine.

Lots of questions of whether we should "take it" or not.

My answer has been -- no idea -- haven't seen the data.

Now we have data!

So let's look at the data -- what does it tell us?

Thread

New study out in today's @TheLancet with real data.

So that's exciting

Key findings:

First, these are adenovirus vector vaccines. Like the Oxford Astrazeneca, CanSino and others

Nothing new or particularly innovative here

Link to study:

sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

And?

Two vectors, 76 patients

Relatively young, healthy patients in 2 hospitals

And bottom line is largely positive:

Recipients generated humoral (antibodies) and cellular (T cells) immune response

Lots of side-effects (fevers, pain) but nothing serious.

Short-term

3/5

Worth noting, as editorialist does, that immune response was robust.

And it was in healthy people.

So, Russcian vaccine joins others including the one from CanSino, Moderna, Astarzeneca, etc in showing immune response.

So what does this mean?

4/5

thelancet.com/journals/lance…

Bottom line:

We do NOT know if Russian vaccine is safe (small, short-term study only) or effective (does it prevent infection or severe infections)?

Russians "approved" vaccine without knowing if it worked/was safe

This study is good -- but doesn't answer those questions

5/6

Russia approving vaccine without Phase 3 trial irresponsible

We should ensure we don't follow same path

Am hopeful Russian vaccine will eventually be deemed safe/effective

World needs all the vaccines we can get

Science moving fast. Let's do it right -- wait for the data

Fin